The 15-year-old is one of the most prominent faces among Russian athletes. Now there are new developments in the whirlwind of a positive doping test by Kamila Valieva: her case is before the Sports Court.
Russian Olympic figure skating champion Kamila Valieva has tested positive for the stimulant trimetazidine ahead of the Beijing Winter Games. This was announced by the International Test Agency ITA, commissioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), on Friday morning. The CAS Court of Justice will decide whether the 15-year-old, who won gold in the team competition with the Russian team on Monday, may take part in the individual competition.
Valieva’s positive sample was taken on the sidelines of the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St. Petersburg on December 25, according to the ITA release. The WADA-accredited laboratory in Stockholm announced the positive finding on Tuesday – one day after the Olympic team competition. The Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA issued a temporary ban, but lifted it again on Wednesday after an objection by Valieva. The IOC appealed this decision.
Super talent Valieva is one of the most prominent faces among Russian athletes at the Winter Games. She only made her adult debut this season and won the European Championship title in January. In the Olympic team competition, she had won the women’s freestyle by a clear margin, making her the top favorite for the individual competition.
Russia’s athletes are under particular scrutiny
The favored Russian team prevailed over the USA and Japan. In addition to Valieva, Mark Kondratiuk (both singles), Anastasia Mischina and Alexander Galljamow (pairs) as well as Wictoria Sinizina and Nikita Kazalapow (ice dance) also contributed to the success. The award ceremony planned for Tuesday evening (local time) had been postponed. Kamila Valieva: The Russian had won gold with her team in the figure skating competition.
Russia’s athletes are also under particular scrutiny in Beijing. The country is blocked because of the scandal of state-organized doping and the cover-up of sports fraud, as it was at the Summer Games in Tokyo. The Russian athletes may only compete as representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The Russian anthem may not be played and the flag may not be hoisted at award ceremonies.